Response is great for new basketball league
Marion City Commission hears recreation report
Staff writer
Response has been great to a new basketball league for children, Marion City Commissioners learned Monday.
"It's coming together real good for the first year," said Margo Yates, Marion-Florence REC director.
Yates told commissioners the new league would include teams from Peabody, Abilene, Canton-Galva, Centre, and Hillsboro. Students in the third to sixth grades can participate. There will be separate girls and boys teams, Yates said.
In answer to a question posed by City Attorney Dan Baldwin, Yates said there could possibly be 10 Marion teams.
Competition begins the first Saturday in December and continues through January with a season-ending tournament in early February.
"Basically, it's an eight-week season," Yates said.
Also, improvements are continuing at the baseball complex using funds generated from concession stand sales, Yates said. And the swim team purchased new lane markers.
"These are high dollar items that were purchased from money received by selling food," she said.
Yates indicated she was looking for a "pool grant," and said she knew of one possibility but would not be sure until January "if anyone has any money to give out."
Mayor Eloise Mueller questioned whether REC was looking at rebuilding the pool or building a water park.
Yates replied the water park would be great if it were financially feasible, but said she didn't know if that goal was realistic. "But we definitely need to do something," Yates said.
"With a competitive swim team you're still going to need a main swimming pool," Commissioner Larry McLain noted. "You could start with that and then add other things as you can afford them.
"Water parks have proven they can draw (people) from a large area," he added.
City Administrator Dave Mayfield said a water park probably wouldn't be feasible at the pool site because the city does not have enough land available.
Commissioner McLain and Mayor Mueller complimented Yates and the recreation commission on all their hard work.
